Matt Dickson and friend enjoy the moment as students at the East Norfolk Sixth Form in Gorleston receiving their A Level results. Picture: James Bass

As students from across East Norfolk tore open brown envelopes to reveal their A level results, JOE WILKES collared a few and picked their brains about the future, university and the dreaded tuition fees...

Computer whizzkid Chris Watts. Picture: James Bass

East Norfolk Sixth Form College provides 44 AS/A2 subjects along with BTECs and GCSEs and sees about 65pc of its students immediately move on to higher education.

It was above the national average for pass rates and saw a number of stand out successes.

Chris Watts, 18, from Great Yarmouth, achieved an A* in electronics, A* in maths, A in further maths, A in computing and is now off to the University of Southampton to do computer science.

High flyer Faith Jennison. Picture: James Bass

Chris said: “After university I want to be entrepreneurial, I have this ambition to rewrite computer electronics and computing, I always give myself tall orders.

“The rise in tuition fees did not really put me off university, it is the next logical step, it will give me all the contacts I need, it is the price to pay. It does not matter how much it is going to cost, unless it is completely unaffordable. There is financial support and grants, which I have managed to pick up because my dad lives on his own. It has not been too bad in terms of financing myself, but I have saved up, if you have saved up it is a lot easier. But it is much more difficult than in past years, on the whole.

“I am not massively concerned because I know no matter what I will find the money to do it.”

You can go your own way: Matt Dickson is ready to hit the world of work. Picture: James Bass

Faith Jennison, 18, from Loddon, achieved A* in economics, A* in general studies, A in psychology, A in law and is now considering rejecting an offer from University of Kent and aiming higher, (she has already turned Warwick down).

Faith said: “I juggled three jobs - including as a tourist officer and swimming instructor - a boyfriend, time with friends and four hours a night of study.

“I burst into tears when I got the results, I expected slightly lower grades.

“I am thinking about doing law, I do not really know what I want to do, but I know I want to live a comfortable life, and earn a good amount of money.

University may be the only option: Ryan Hughes dreams of being a graphic designer.

“I looked into a bursary at Kent, due to the high tuition fees, but the money will never put me off chasing what I want.”

But not all students are so clear about their future.

Matt Dickson, 17, from Acle, achieved a C in music, C in chemistry and D in maths, and is one of a minority at East Norfolk Sixth Form College not heading to university.

Matt said: “I am Just thinking about getting a job, no real plans for now but preferably not something in a retail environment. I want something that is interesting, I was looking at local geology companies, marine sciences as well, something I can do with my hands or my head.

“It has nothing to do with the tuition fee rises, I never put my whole heart into going to university.

“There was a point where only the top students would go to university, but now it a lot more, but I decided I am going to be my own person. it is going to be something new, I have been in the education system since I was four, I have a general sense of ‘wow this is a whole new life’, I can be an adult.”

Ryan Hughes, 18, from Ormesby St Michael, achieved one A level in graphics and design at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, and is staying on to do a second year of media A level and take on a photography A level in an effort to bump up his UCAS points and get onto a graphics design degree course at university.

Ryan said: “I am not sure (if I am going to university), I am looking into it but am not sure at the minute, if I go to uni it means I can do what I want to do which is become a graphic designer and I do not know any other ways to get into the field.

“The tuition fees are a bit of a worry, but if it comes to it I will just start paying it back - if it comes to it I will have to. I am not entirely concerned about that, it is worth the sacrifice to get the job I want.”